OVER 2 YOU 230 (10/05/05)

GETTING NOTICED

I run a small club for owners of holiday properties to swap holidays. We have had a website for several months but it is "invisible" because it is so unusual and no one realises it is there.   Can anyone tell me, how do you get noticed on the Internet?

C. C., via email

The best primer that I've ever come across for getting noticed on the Internet is available for free and is at http://selfpromotion.com/. It's run by a chap called Robert Woodhead, and even has a search engine submission form that actually works (unlike some). I've used it myself and can affirm that it will get you onto all the major search engines. Pay particular attention to the tutorials section. A few hours spent reading here (and following the advice for tweaking your website) will pay huge dividends. Mr Woodhead works for tips, so if you find it useful (and it is), please send him a donation.

Kevin Inskip, via email

Getting noticed on the Internet is a perennial problem for small businesses and hobbyists. I suggest CC looks at software from SiteSell, which is excellent and easy to use, and solves this problem without resource to tricking the Search Engines.  I use it for my site (www.west-country-living.com) and if CC visits this and then goes to the page named ‘Traffic’, all will be explained plus there is a link to the SiteSell website, which offers a Free Trial.

Peter Jones, via email

My first suggestion is to avoid anyone or any company that offers to raise your profile on the Internet for a fee. Equally paid-for web ‘directories’ are worse than useless and in my experience they are an absolute waste of time and money and the one’s I have dealt with are charlatans. I would definitely have a look a the information and advice published by the major search engines, which may answer some of your questions as to why your site isn’t showing up. The address for the Google advice page, for example is: www.google.co.uk/intl/en/webmasters/. Also have a look at some articles on improving your rankings with search engines at: www.opentracker.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17, and http://developers.evrsoft.com.

Alice Cutter, via email

ANIMATION SOFTWARE

My 16-year old grandson has some simple animation software that was part of a package with a new family computer. He has made some excellent simple cartoons based on his own drawings, which he scanned in. He is interested in graphics and animation as a possible career so I have promised to buy him some more sophisticated software. However I do not know where to find any. I have tried the local computer stores without success. Can anyone recommend suitable software or a helpful website or supplier?

Doris Morey, via email

I suggest Autodesk 3DS Max supplied by Discreet at www4.discreet.com/products/

 the price is about £1500 but it is the professional choice and the best alternative custom software. Alternatively there is Cosmic Blobs (www.cosmicblobs.com/), which is a much simpler programme to run but not so sophisticated.

Thomas Mindenhall, via email

Have a look at Anim8or from: www.anim8or.com/main/index.html. It is freeware and whilst it lacks the bells and whistles of many commercial programs it is very easy to use and idea for a budding animator to learn the basics and hone their animation skills.

Les Chaplin, via email

Your grandson will find the following fairly simple to use: Macromedia Director (which makes very good movies), Flash (good for putting things onto the Web) and Photoshop, (for editing images to animate).  Good luck, I am 80 now and just finished my MA in Digital media. 

Sylvie Whitaker, via email

Most serious animation software is frighteningly expensive but there are plenty of freeware and shareware programs available and I suggest that your Grandson tries a few of them before you or he makes any serious investment. There’s a good selection of free or try before you buy animation software at: www.freewarefiles.com/

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Kevin Mortimer, via email

GOING LOCO

I am researching British Railways diesel and electric locomotives, particularly named locomotives. I wonder if anyone knows of a website listing the original numbers, with their "TOPS" (Total Operations Processing System) equivalent and, of course the names?

Andrew J. Southwell, Towngate, Ossett

Most of the sites that I know only give currently existing locomotives, including those in preservation, with their current TOPS numbers and names. An excellent one is End of the Line at: www.wnxx.com. For the full information that he is seeking, I would suggest looking for books written by Colin J. Marsden, one of the top railway journalists (most are available through Amazon). Colin also has a website at: http://cjm.fotopic.net/

Andrew Lait, via email

CAN YOU HELP?

My local history group has an archive of digital images but our finances do not run to purchasing a digital system for projecting images on to a screen for presentations to large groups. We do have a 35mm projector however, so does anybody know of a way to convert digital images into colour transparencies or can recommend a company that can do this?

Geoff Sadler, via email

I have recently joined the management committee of our local bowling club (lawn and short mat) and I am looking to acquire a collection of Clip Art to use for notices, newsletters etc.

I have spent considerable time "Googling" but always seem to find mentions of 10-pin bowling. Can anybody suggest a source of suitable (preferably free) Clip Art that pertains to the English game?

Ian Perry, via email